SIC Code Lookup: How to Find the Right Code for Your Business

Every company registered at Companies House must declare at least one SIC code - a five-digit number that classifies its nature of business. Choosing the right code matters more than you might think, and getting it wrong can cause problems down the line.

What Are SIC Codes?

SIC stands for Standard Industrial Classification. The UK uses the SIC 2007 system (based on the EU's NACE Rev. 2 classification), which organises all economic activities into a hierarchical structure:

• 21 Sections (A through U) - broadest categories like "Manufacturing" or "Information and Communication"
• 88 Divisions (2-digit) - e.g., "62 - Computer programming and consultancy"
• 272 Groups (3-digit) - e.g., "620 - Computer programming, consultancy and related activities"
• 615 Classes (4-digit) - e.g., "6201 - Computer programming activities"
• UK-specific 5-digit codes - e.g., "62011 - Ready-made interactive leisure and entertainment software development"

How to Find Your SIC Code

The official way to find your SIC code is through the Companies House SIC code search tool or the ONS SIC code lookup. Here's a practical approach:

1. Start broad: Which of the 21 sections best describes your main activity?
2. Narrow down: Within that section, find the division that fits
3. Get specific: Choose the most specific 5-digit code that matches your business

You can also search by keyword. For example, searching "restaurant" will show you 56101 (Licensed restaurants) and 56102 (Unlicensed restaurants and cafes).

Most Common SIC Codes

These are the codes most frequently used by newly incorporated companies:

How Many Codes Can You Have?

A company can register up to 4 SIC codes at Companies House. You should include codes for all your significant business activities. For example, a company that develops software and also provides IT consultancy might use both 62011 and 62020.

You can update your SIC codes when you file your confirmation statement (previously annual return). If your business activities change, update your codes at the next opportunity.

Common Mistakes

• Using 99999 (dormant): This is only for companies that aren't yet trading. Many people select it at incorporation and forget to update it when they start trading
• Being too generic: Choosing "82990 - Other business support service activities" when a more specific code exists
• Using outdated codes: The SIC 2003 system is no longer accepted - make sure you're using SIC 2007 codes
• Confusing similar codes: 62011 (software products) vs 62012 (business software) vs 62020 (IT consultancy) - these have different meanings for statistical purposes

Why SIC Codes Matter

Beyond Companies House compliance, SIC codes are used for:

• Business insurance: Insurers use SIC codes to assess risk and set premiums
• Government statistics: ONS uses SIC codes to compile economic data
• Tax and VAT: Some SIC codes trigger specific HMRC reporting requirements
• Business rates: Local authorities may use SIC codes in rate calculations
• Procurement: Government contracts often specify eligible SIC codes
• Lead generation: Tools like NewcoHunter let you filter new company registrations by SIC code - so having the right code means your company gets found by the right prospects

SIC Code Lookup on NewcoHunter

NewcoHunter uses SIC codes as a primary filter for monitoring new company registrations. You can search by specific codes, code ranges, or entire sections to find new companies in your target industries. Our platform groups SIC codes into intuitive categories, making it easy to build searches even if you're not sure of the exact code.